Last year was a banner season for Requested, the winningest horse of the 2018 season at Hippodrome 3R, and he makes his 2019 debut at the Quebec half-miler on Sunday.
The six-year-old stallion by Badlands Hanover posted eight wins in his 12 starts last year for owner and trainer, Jean Ducharme of Crabtree, Que. All of his 2018 starts were at Hippodrome 3R.
Requested, winning at 3R in 2018
On Sunday (May 19) Requested starts from the second tier in post nine in the eighth race Preferred-Handicapped Pace and will be driven by Simon Delisle. Requested’s normal driver, Francis Picard, is committed to driver Outlaw Turn N Burn (post four).
It will most certainly not be a walk in the park for Requested as he faces stiff competition from HP Patriote (post five) and Surf Report (post eight).
A former Quebec-Bred Series Champion, HP Patriote is trained by Gerard Demers for the GLD, Inc. Stable and Claude Hamel. The eight-year-old gelding by Vintage Master is shipping back to 3R off an impressive 1:54 triumph at Rideau Carleton Raceway’s five-eighths mile track. It was his third win this season.
Surf Report is unbeaten in his first two starts at 3R with Tyler Jones in the sulky. They have teamed together for owner-trainer Francis Guillemette of Trois-Rivieres and make a formidable pair.
A seven-year-old gelding by Sportswriter, Surf Report has four wins this year. Last week he was super-impressive with Jones, holding the field at bay the entire one-mile race, winning by three and one-half lengths in 1:55.
Surf Report has won both his last two starts on the front end and with having to start from the far outside in post eight, may be expected to go after the lead again.
3R regular Bali lines up in post seven and other contenders include Windsun Cheyenne (post six) and Rose Run Slider (post three).
The seventh race Preferred Handicapped Trot features the return of longshot winner, Jamigo. Last week, when the two favourites went off-stride, Jamigo kept his cool and went on to win with ease at nearly 20-1 odds, paying $41.50 to win.
Jamigo (post six) will take on Upvote Hanover (post five), Holiday Party (post seven) and Rocky Boy (post eight).
Track Notes: Hippodrome 3R will start Friday night harness racing next week on May 24 with first race post time at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)